PROFILE ON PRODUCTION OF FISHING NET AND SPORTS NET

84-4III.MARKET STUDY AND PLANT CAPACITYA. MARKET STUDY1. Past Supply and Present DemandFishing nets are used for fish catching. Fish is highly nutritious, rich in micro-nutrients,minerals, essential fatty acids and protein. In many countries including Ethiopia theaverage per capita fish consumption is as low as up to two kilogrammes per year.The global demand for fishes is growing as urban population increases and incomegrows. The global fish supply increased from 45 million metric ton in 1873 to 91 millionton in 1997. Rapid urbanization along with increase in the average amount of fishconsumption per head led to soaring increase in global fish consumption.Inland fisheries status is difficult for assessment, catch rates being dependent onseasonality. Globally, inland fishery resources appear to be continuing to decline as aresult of habitat degradation and over fishing.According to FAO’s world fish production statistics of 2004, Ethiopia’s captureproduction was 10,005 tons. Most fisheries in Ethiopia could be classified as small scale,labour intensive, using small crafts and little capital and equipment per person-on boardtype.